A Most Unlikely Betrothal by Alice Kirks

Chapter 7

 

 

Sophia's eyes kept travelling to the doorway. Freedom lay just outside that door, but how could she get there without causing a scene?

 

 

 

She inwardly sighed, knowing full well that there was no way out. The reason for her situation sat a merefew steps away from her, looking wonderfully unaffected and acting as though this interaction between their families was normal. There was nothing normal about what was happening! What was wrong with everyone?

 

 

 

“Sophia,” she heard her mother say in a slightly desperate voice.

 

 

 

What was wrong now? Couldn't they leave her alone? She turned to her mother, noticing that everyone was looking at her. What had she missed?

 

 

 

“Yes, Mama?”

 

 

 

“Dear, did you not hear us speaking to you?”

 

 

 

Sophia slowly looked around the room, wondering who had asked her a question. She guessed it was the Duchess from how her mother kept giving her 'you're in trouble' eyes.

 

 

 

“Forgive me, but I was thinking about painting your corgis, Your Grace” she lied.

 

 

 

The Duchess smiled, her teeth showing. “Indeed? What ideas do you have?”

 

 

 

“Uh... I could paint them in the garden,” Sophia said, scrambling for an idea. “Or perhaps at your feet.”

 

 

 

The Duchess clapped her hands. "That sounds lovely, dear. I love the idea of having them at my feet or even the garden. When do you think you could come to see me again to talk further about it?"

 

 

 

Sophia hadn't anticipated the Duchess being so serious about this. Goodness! The last thing Sophia needed was another visit to Richard's home.

 

 

 

“I'm sure we could come up with a day,” Sophia said as vaguely as she could.

 

 

 

“Next week would suit me perfectly!” the Duchess declared.

 

 

 

Sophia inwardly groaned. "Yes, of course, Your Grace."

 

 

 

What on earth hadshe gotten herself into now? Sophia had just made a commitment to see the Duchess again, which was more than she had wanted. It was probably wishful thinking on her side, believing that she could avoid Richard's mother indefinitely when she was marrying the her son, but a woman was entitled to it once in a while.

 

 

 

Thankfully, a servant came in to announce that dinner was ready, putting an end to the conversation. A relief, considering Sophia would have likely found herself having to agree to several more meetings otherwise. By how her mother kept talking about the wedding, however, Sophia was confident she would accompany the Emley matriarchto several meetings with the Duchess.When had her life been reduced to discussions about becoming the next Countess of Brittingham and her wedding to the earl?

 

 

 

Oh yes—since Richard kissed her and turned her life upside down. Sophia had often heard women gushing over 'that one kiss' that could change a person's life. Well, that one kiss had certainly changed Sophia's life, and not for the better.

 

 

 

“Escort your fiancée, Richard,” the Duchess ordered.

 

 

 

Sophia wanted to protest, but one look from her mother was enough to shut her up. Glaring at the arm Richard offered her, she gingerlyplaced her hand atop his forearm, hesitating when she felt rising heat through his sleeve. It made her palm tingle a little, and Sophia considered moving away, but she knew everyone was watching her.

 

 

 

Keeping her hand on Richard's arm, Sophia started walking without him. Richard had to take a few quick steps to catch up to her and keep her hand in place, but he didn't complain. Sophia assumed it would probably hurt his pride to claimthat she was acting as though she didn't want to touch him, and he would be right to think that. The last time they had touched had launched her into this mess.

 

 

 

Richard took Sophia to her seat, pulling it out and tucking her in like the perfect gentleman. Shemumbled her thanks, already wanting to stuff her mouth with something so she would have an excuse not to talk; she didn't trust herself to remain polite for the whole night.

 

 

 

Chestnut soup was served first, followed by mackerel covered in butter and herbs. Sophia was glad she was allowed to eat the two courses without any questions sent her way. However, her luck eventually ran out when the Duchess addressed her directly.

 

 

 

"Do you have any requests for the celebratory wedding breakfast, dear? We will have all the traditional food, but I wanted to know if there was anything that you would like that might not be included.”

 

 

 

If only the Duchess knew that Sophia had absolutely no interest in marrying her son.

 

 

 

“I'm confident that whatever Your Grace and my mother decide to serve will be perfect, ” she said, then added,“I'm not fussy about food.”

 

 

 

“You seem to be an easy person to impress, my dear,” the Duchess remarked.

 

 

 

Richard snorted, drawing everyone's attention. He quickly turned it into a cough and took a sip of wine, but Sophia was aware that the man had found his mother's words amusing. It didn't surprise her that Richard assumed her to be a difficult person; anyone who didn't fall for his charms would be a difficult person to deal with in his eyes.

 

 

 

“I like to think so, Your Grace,” Sophia answered, sliding a look at Richard.

 

 

 

Wisely, the young man didn't make any more foolish noises, but his expression was dubious. What did it matter what he thought about her? He was just like any other person on this earth—except theselect few Sophia actually appreciated .

 

 

 

Several roasts were served with an assortment of vegetables, gravy and pies. The Duke stood up to carve the roasts, offering generous slices to everyone. Sophia soon found herself with more meat than she usually ate but didn't complain. She simply tucked into her meal, keeping her head down while the conversation flowed around her.

 

 

 

“You do not need to finish everything on your plate, Miss Emley,” said Richard.

 

 

 

Sophia paused, turning her head to him. “I beg your pardon, my lord?”

 

 

 

“You looked overwhelmed when you saw the amount of meat on your plate,” the earlexplained.“You do not need to finish it all.”

 

 

 

What was it to him? “I'll do whatever I please, my lord. Thank you.”

 

 

 

Richard pulled his head back as though she had slapped him. “I just thought...”

 

 

 

“Do not worry about thinking, my lord. Men like you just have to look pretty.”

 

 

 

Sophia stilled as soon as the words had left her mouth. She hadn't meant to say anything of the sort, but she would only embarrass herself if she took them back.

 

 

 

Ignoring the shocked look on Richard's face, she returned to her meal and forked a large piece of tender beef into her mouth. There, that should keep her quiet for a while. Why was she feeling so bad about her comment? Richard had likely said worse things about her to his friends, the very same ones who kept taunting her and treating her like a scandalous woman who had stolen Richard's virtue. She snorted inwardly—did the man have any to begin with?

 

 

 

“You're rather quick with those retorts, Miss Emley,” Richardsaid. “Although I should start calling you Sophia. It wouldn't make sense to others to hear me address you so formally considering our relationship.”

 

 

 

Relationship? What relationship? Sophia finished chewing her food, taking her time while she thought of a fitting response. She looked around the table and, finding the others engaged in conversation, turned to Richard.

 

 

 

"Do not talk to me about relationships, my lord," she snapped, speaking under her breath. "Ours is just a business transaction to please our families—nothing more, nothing less. Now, if you please, I wish to eat my meal in peace. I’d prefer not to get indigestion."

 

 

 

“What are you two discussing there?” the Duchess questioned. “You seem to be deep in conversation.”

 

 

 

“We're talking about the upcoming ball, Mother,” Richard answered.

 

 

 

Sophia pulled her eyebrows together as she swished a piece of carrot in the sweet buttery sauce it had come in. Part of her had been certain he would say something to point the finger at her, but he went in another direction with his answer. Why? Wouldn't it help him to paint her in an awful light and hopefully put an end to this farce of a wedding?

 

 

 

They had months to go before the ceremony, giving Richard every opportunity to prove her unfit to become the next Countess of Brittingham. Sophia was actually counting on him doing just that because her hands were tied. There was not a thing Sophia could do to change the situation. Well, nothing except one thing that would ruin her forever.

 

 

 

She had discussed refusing to marry Richard and becoming a spinster to her best friend, but it would come with a heavy price. Sophia would certainly face her parents' wrath and might even be disowned by them. Should that happen, Sophia would have to find a place to stay and take up some form of employment.

 

 

 

Becoming a governess seemed like the best thing, but she would need a recommendation for that. Unfortunately, working in England might not be possible, so France was her next option. No one would ever know who she was, and Sophia could speak French as well as any native speaker.

 

 

 

“That would be your first social event as a betrothed couple,” Sophia's mother piped up then. “Unless we have a dinner party before then to introduce you. That might be better.”

 

 

 

"I agree, Patricia," the Duchess replied. "A dinner party with family and friends sounds like the perfect way to introduce our children as a betrothed couple. Everything has happened rather quickly, but we shouldn't skip the usual social niceties."

 

 

 

Somewhere between the drawing-room and dining room, everyone had come to address each other by their first names, and Sophia had missed it. Would the Duchess and Duke expect her to call them Mother and Father? That would give the engagement a sense of finality that Sophia wasn't ready for.

 

 

 

The mothers continued their discussion of the dinner party while the fathers carried on their own conversation about politics and hunting as though no one else was at the table. The only person paying her far too much attention was Richard.

 

 

 

Sophia had known he had been observing her in the drawing-room although he had tried to hide it, and he was still watching her from the corner of his eye. What did he want from her? She was no happier than he was about the situation. Sophia believed she had the greater reason to hate their circumstances because none of this was her fault.

 

 

 

If Richard hadn't tried to lure Elizabeth into the dark and try to kiss her, this would have never happened. What made this entire ordeal so much harder to handle was Elizabeth's overnight hatred. Sophia's sister blamed her for everything, believing that Sophia had been so desperate to marry that she had tricked Richard into kissing her that night. It didn't matter what Sophia said in her defence; Elizabeth refused to listen to reason. Was it any wonder that she was nearing her breaking point?

 

 

 

Dessert was served without another word from Richard, which Sophia was grateful for. She didn't know how much longer she could go without saying something that would really cause problems. To say that she was miserable was an understatement. No, Sophia was seething beneath her polite exterior, and her anger was looking for an escape route.

 

 

 

Relief swept through her as dinner was finally concluded and they moved to the drawing-room for coffee. It meant that they were closer to going home, or at least that was what Sophia thought.

 

 

 

“Why don't you take Sophia for a walk, Richard?” his mother suggested. “It's a lovely night outside.”

 

 

 

Sophia's mouth gaped open slightly as she looked at the Duchess in disbelief. Had the woman lost her mind? The reason why they were in this mess was because of a night-timemeeting in the garden!

 

 

 

“That's not necessary, Your Grace,” Sophia said when Richard didn't respond. “I can see the garden on another day.”

 

 

 

The operative word being day. Sophia never wanted to be alone with Richard ever again, let alone think about being his wife.

 

 

 

“Nonsense, dear,” her mother lightly chided. “You and Richard need a little time to get to know each other, but let's not have a repeat of the last time you were alone together.”

 

 

 

Sophia's face heated to the point that she knew her skin had turned lobster red. Did her mother have to suggest that they would repeat what happened the last time? Sophia had never put a foot out of place until Richard entered and messed everything up for her.

 

 

 

“I would be honoured to show Sophia around the garden,” said Richard, standing.

 

 

 

Sophia wanted to tell him to sit down and keep quiet, but she had to settle on glaring up at him.

 

 

 

“There you go, Sophia dear,” her mother said. “Go along with Richard. Do not take too long as we must go home and see if your sister has improved.”

 

 

 

Sophia would much rather go home, but she had no choice except to stand up and make peace with the fact that she would be alone with Richard once again. Her belly did a little somersault at the thought, making her head feel as though it wanted to take off without her. The moment passed as quickly as it had come, allowing Sophia to start walking.

 

 

 

She ignored Richard's arm and marched to the door, not caring if she seemed rude. Finding the garden shouldn't be too challenging. Sophia decided that she would walk through it as quickly as she could and return to the drawing-room where she could claim a headache and beg her parents to leave. It was a good plan; the only wild card was Richard. There was no telling what he would do or say next.

 

 

 

“Sophia!” she heard him call as she neared the closest door she assumed would lead her outside.

 

 

 

Ignoring him, Sophia pulled on the handle and stepped outside, feeling satisfaction when she found what she was looking for. Who needed men?

 

 

 

“Sophia!” Richard called again, appearing beside her. “You're certainly the fastest woman I've ever met.”

 

 

 

“It's a shame that I wasn't faster,” she replied, paying him a brief glance.

 

 

 

Sophia didn't pause once but set off for the flower garden that she could pick out in the dim moonlight.

 

 

 

"Would you slow down a little?" he asked. "I can keep up with you easily, but how am I to show you the garden if you rush through it?"

 

 

 

Sophia wanted to tell him that she would enjoy the walk more without him by her side, but she bit her tongue. All she had to do was ignore him until she could return to the house.

 

 

 

“Are you ignoring me?” he asked. “Because it seems like it.”

 

 

 

Should she give him a prize? Applause? Sophia rolled her eyes. He acted as though she was being unfair, but Richard didn't get to say what was and wasn't unfair. He was the reason why she had become the villain, and he had become the helpless victim. Sophia had a feeling Richard had done nothing to quell those rumours either.

 

 

 

“What is your problem?” Richard demanded. “This isn't easy for either of us, but your attitude is making everything much worse.”

 

 

 

Sophia stopped in her tracks and slowly turned to the man. Was he out of his mind? Or was he simply an imbecile?

 

 

 

“Excuse me?” she hissed. “Did I hear you correctly? Did you ask what myproblem is?”

 

 

 

“That is precisely what I said,” Richard replied, crossing his arms. “You have been rude towards me since you stepped into the house. Is that how you treat the person you're soon to marry?”

 

 

 

"Don't talk to me about marriage, Richard Hatherton! None of this would have happened if you hadn't wanted my sister to sneak off and have a little rendezvous away from prying eyes. What you didn't anticipate was getting caught."

 

 

 

Sophia didn't add that she had been the one caught with him and not Elizabeth. She didn't have to say it; Richard knew the story as well as she did. After all, he was there.

 

 

 

“If I could change that night, I would,” Richard claimed, running a hand through his hair.

 

 

 

“Oh, I do not doubt that one bit,” Sophia replied with a harsh laugh. “You hate the fact that you're saddled with me, but I'm glad it wasn't Elizabeth who was caught with you. Do you understand that you would have put my sister in a compromising situation and possibly ruined her? She actually has a future ahead of her, my lord. I'm the one who was set aside before I even had a chance to spread my wings. I have always been the expendable one. I just never knew how expendable I was until you walked into my life and destroyed it.”

 

 

 

Her parents had thrown her at Richard's feet the moment they had heard about the scandal. Sophia still didn't know if they were trying to save her reputation or relieved that they could force her on someone to avoid the shame of having a spinster for a daughter. She doubted her parents would ever claim the latter reason, but it was undoubtedly on their minds.

 

 

 

“I destroyed your life?” asked a gobsmacked Richard. “How do you suppose I did that?”

 

 

 

Was he so obtuse that he couldn't see the role he had played? Sophia had never taken the Lord Brittingham for a simpleton; perhaps he wasn't used to confrontations withwomen.

 

 

 

“Are you so blind to everything?” she asked him. “Are you so self-centred that you cannot see your wrongs?”

 

 

 

"I made a mistake when I mistook you for Elizabeth, for which I'm sorry," Richard began. "But surely you cannot keep returning to that one fault over and over again? That will make you a bitter woman.”

 

 

 

Sophia's mouth gaped as her mind struggled to come to terms with what Richard had said. Was he calling her bitter? The nerve of the man! How would he have reacted if the roles had been reversed? Frankly, she was surprised he wasn't fighting this marriage with every fibre of his being.

 

 

 

She had mentioned the matter to Rose, who had very delicately put forth the idea that Richard probably intended to keep a mistress. Most men in his position had them, apparently. That had been one of the most horrifying news to date. Sophia had not even wanted to ask how Rose had come by this information and had asked her friend to change the subject.

 

 

 

Marriage was a sacred bond. It didn't matter that the husband and wife did not love each other! The fact remained that they had spoken binding vows before God and were forever seen as one rather than two. It didn't matter that Sophia had long ago accepted that she would never marry; marriage was still a commitment that had to be honoured.

 

 

 

This was how Sophia had seen it for all her life, but hearing that people indulged in affairs had tinged her idyllic view of marriage with a red brush.

 

 

 

“Calling me a bitter woman will not change who and what you are, Lord Brittingham,” Sophia said carefully. “But it certainly confirms my every belief about your kind.”

 

 

 

“My kind?” Richard repeated, raising his eyebrows. “What do you mean by that?”

 

 

 

Sophia realised this was her chance of getting everything off her chest and expressing the feelings that threatened to bubble over and expose how she wasn't handling the situation. She knew that she appeared calm and composed on the surface, but Sophia was screaming on the inside. It was amazing that she hadn't torn her hair out or gone running through the woods until she was certain that no one could find her and drag her back home.

 

 

 

Witha quick look around to surveiltheir location, Sophia confirmed that no one was within earshot. What she was about to say was not meant for anyone but the man standing before her.

 

 

 

"You give new meaning to the class of snivelling, weak-minded men, my lord," she spat out. "How dare you call me a bitter woman? How dare you make light of this horrible situation we're in?"

 

 

 

Richard blinked hard, his head jerking as though he couldn't make sense of what she was saying.

 

 

 

“Now, wait just a minute, Sophia,” he said, pointing a finger at her.

 

 

 

“I suggest you put down that finger before you lose it, my lord,” she warned.

 

 

 

Richard immediately retracteditand hid his hand behind his back. At least the man was smart enough to follow direct commands.

 

 

 

“What is wrong with you?” he asked. “This is not normal behaviour for a woman.”

 

 

 

Sophia laughed at that. "Not normal behaviour, he says," she said more to herself. "Does he know what normal looks like?"

 

 

 

“Talking to yourself is usually evidence of a demented mind,” Richard claimed. “I don't think you're demented, Sophia. What is going on with you? I know you're a difficult person to get along with, but even this is excessive for you.”

 

 

 

“Why, you spoilt, weak, condescending man!” Sophia breathed. “How dare you tell me who I am? You know absolutely nothing about me beyond those stupid assumptions all those small-minded people make of me.”

 

 

 

“Are you not doing the same?” Richard asked. “Aren't you judging me?”

 

 

 

Was he trying to turn the tables on her? “Are you denying that you are the reason behind this scandal? The reason why I have to marry a man I do not even like? What sort of weakling are you?”

 

 

 

Sophia took several steps away from Richard, gripping her elbows. She could hardly think through her anger. She needed to get herself under control if she hoped to give Richard a piece of her mind. The man needed to know precisely how she felt about the entire situation.

 

 

 

She took a deep breath and turned to him. "I do not like you, and you do not like me—that we can agree upon. I'm not the one who got us into this mess.You did. You decided to throw caution to the wind and plan a meeting with my sister so you could kiss her. I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time because I was running away from the ball. I had no notion of what you were about to do. The last time I saw you and my sister was when you were together on the ballroom floor, for goodness' sake! All I had wanted to do was get away from the judging eyes and find a quiet place to sit and read.”

 

 

 

Sophia paused as she recalled the events of that night. Everything had been as normal as they come right up until the kiss. How was she supposed to know that hiding in the garden would cost her freedom?

 

 

 

"Suddenly, this odd gust of window comes out of nowhere and blows my lamp out until all I could see were shadows. Then you appeared like some phantom of doom after nearly scaring me to death when you stepped on those twigs. How should I have reacted to a shadowy figure approaching me in the dark? I wanted to run, but my feet were stuck to the ground. I didn't even register that it was you who was speaking until it was too late!"

 

 

 

The kiss had been the only thing that had given her the ability to run away, but it had already been too late by then. Sophia still didn't know who had spied on them and spread the rumour. Had they actually bothered to look properly, they would have seen that Sophia had been an unwilling person.

 

 

 

"Now, my life is ruined, and it's all your fault," she continued. "You are the last person I would ever want to marry, Lord Brittingham. I know that other women would likely kill to be in my position, but I would gladly give it up without argument. I have no desire to marry such a spineless man whose only claim to fame is his beauty."

 

 

 

There! At last she had said what had sat on her heart like aheavy boulder.

 

 

 

Richard had not interrupted her monologue and looked like a man who had had the carpet pulled out from underneath him.

 

 

 

“Would you rather be a spinster?” he asked. “This is the only way that you'll ever get married, Sophia. I thought you would have been more grateful than this.”

 

 

 

He expected her to be grateful? “I should be grateful about marrying a man like you?”

 

 

 

Richard nodded. “Yes, that is precisely what I think.”

 

 

 

“Then you're a bigger fool than I thought. There are worse things than being a spinster, my lord. If you will excuse me.”

 

 

 

Sophia didn't spare Richard a backward glance as she marched off and returned to the drawing-room where she informed her parents of a headache and her need to return home. They, fortunately, agreed with her and thanked the Duke and Duchess profusely before getting into their carriage and driving away.

 

 

 

As she rested her head on the seat and thought about the evening, Sophia knew this wouldn't be her last meeting with Richard. But oh, how she wished it was.